Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Ahmad Shabery: We will start early for 2011 Sea Games

PREPARATIONS for the 2011 Sea Games in Indonesia is expected to start early.

Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said since Indonesia are expected to host the 2011 Sea Games in June, there will be only 18 months to prepare.

"Furthermore, we have to start preparing all the logistics involved, including the delegation of duties for officers involved since the Games will be hosted at four main venues," he told reporters after chairing the National Sports Council's board meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Ahmad Shabery said the meeting also adopted a proposal to take a different approach for the Sea Games.

"It must be given proper attention because it is what the people want. With football being the most popular sport, we need to defend the gold medal."

NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said preparations for the 2011 SEA Games would start soon.

However,since the allocation for the NSC had been reduced, the council would be prudent in its spending.

"The meeting also agreed to send 12 coaches for a one-year stint in Canada as part of preparations for the 2012 London Olympics."

He added that though NSC has yet to identify the coaches, there was a possibility that the coaches would be among those involved in the Road To London 2012 programme involving badminton, archery, cycling and diving. -- Bernama